DUMFRIES and Galloway will receive a £1 million economic boost later this year when the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships roll in to the area.
A three-way agreement reached by Dumfries and Galloway Council, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and South of Scotland Enterprise has ensured the area will witness the world’s best para-cyclists this August.
From August 3-13, the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships will be hosted in Glasgow and across Scotland. It will be the world’s biggest cycling event in history, bringing together for the first time 13 existing UCI World Championships into one mega event.
Economically, it is expected to boost the region’s economy by £1million and attract 10,000 visitors.
Socially, it is hoped the staging of these races as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds will help and encourage more people to jump on a bike for commuting and leisure pursuits.
This landmark investment will support the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership Strategy’s aim of making cycling the most popular choice for shorter, everyday journeys by 2032 in the region.
Commenting, Cllr Ian Blake said: “We’re very much looking forward to working with SOSE and the UCI to bring this world class event to Dumfries and Galloway.
“To be part of the world’s biggest cycling event is something we’re not only excited for, but also immensely proud that we can host the para-cycling road race and time trial here, in our region.”
To encourage participation in cycling, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships have partnered with Love to Ride to launch the 23 Million Mile Challenge.
The organisers are challenging everyone to sign up and contribute to their collective target of 23 million miles cycled across the UK ahead of the biggest cycling event in the world. Registrations are open at cyclingworldchamps.com/23-million-mile-challenge
